Pneumatic tire



April 27, 1943. H, s, HOWE' 2,31%;9'1'2 PNEUMATIC TIRE Filed March 12, 1941 gif INVENTOR MM5/ww Kunz a; 1 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1943l PNEUMATIC TIRE' Harold S. Howe, Detroit, Mich., assignoiIl :to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation ot New Jersey Application March 12, 1941, sei-iai No. 392,915

1o ciaims. (ci. 152.356)

This invention relates to pneumatic tires and, in particular, it relates to the carcass of pneumatic tires and to the selection of the plies which form the carcass. More particularly, the invention relates to the distribution in a pneumatic tire carcass of certain plies having higher tensile strength and/or elongation characteristics -for the purpose of increasing the rupture resistance of the tire. By reference to rupture of pneumatic tires itis intended herein to mean a breakV or separation of the cords forming the plies of `a tire carcasslcaused when the tire rolls over a sharp or pointed object which results in an excessive and localized deformation of the tire carcass. In the manufacture of pneumatic tires, a considerable amount of development vand prog- -ress has been made in their overall performance.

However, very little attention has been directed toward specific improvements in rupture resistance.

I have found that when a sharp object is' forced against 'a tire tread, a temporary indentation is formed in the carcass and greater strains take place on the inner plies as distinguished from the outer plies. This is due in part tothe fact that such plies 'are more remote from the point indentation and therefore they tend to increase in area. By increasing the strength and/ or elongation ofthe second or third ply in a 4 or 6-ply tire, I find that all of the carcassplies will function more uniformly collectivelyA to resist ruptures. By reference to specific plies. it is to be understood that the rst or band ply is the inner ply of the tire carcass or the ply that lies adjacent the inner tube, while the remaining pliesare numbered consecutively from the inner to the outer plies. It is Valso to be understood that reference to plies is intended to include the ca rcass plies, 'excluding other reinforcing -fabrics such as breaker strips or plies.

As before stated, the inner plies of the carcass are subjected to greater abuse when a sharp object is forced against the tire tread than the outer plies. The nrst or band ply is an exception tothis rule because the cords in the first ply are not locked between adjacent plies in which the y cords extend in substantially opposite directions. Accordingly, when the rst ply is subjected to unusual distortions, thecords of the ply are freer to adjust themselves and to thereby release excessive stresses. Therefore, in order to increase the rupture resistance of a tire carcass, in a 4 or 6-ply tire, improvements may be obtained by special treatment of the second ply or by special treatment .of the second and third plies.l

There are vvarious ways in which the second or third ply may be modified in order to obtain an improvement in the rupture resistance of the.

improvement. An improvement Vn'iayalso be obtained by increasing the elongationr characteristics of the cords winch form the second ply.

A still further improvement may be had by increasing the tensilestrength in combination with an increase in the elongation characteristics of the cords of the second ply. By any such a modificationv of the plies of the carcass, a substantial increase' in rupture resistance vwill be obtained. Such an increase is the result of the use of additional material or is due to an improvement in the quality of the material used in the formation `of the second ply of the tire.Y

The Vresulting improvement, by increasing the quality of the second ply, is comparatively greater than if all of the plies were treated in the same manner as the second ply.

I have also found that substantial improvements in the rupture resistance of pneumatic' tires may be obtained by improving the characteristics of the second ply in a 4 ply tire and' reducing the quality of the remaining plies. `By

this arrangement it is possible to obtain a substantial improvement in rupture resistance` ofvl the tire without adding to the total strength of the tire carcass. In other words, the improvement can be obtained without any additional material or any increase in total cost of the tire.-. Among the objects of my invention are to increase the rupture resistance of a tire carcass without increasing the total strength or elongation characteristics of the plies of the carcass; to provide a substantial increase in rupture resistance by changing only one or two plies ofthe tire carcass; and tov provide an increase in rupture resistance Without increasing tire cost.

These and other` objects and advantages wl1 appear more fully in the following detailed description when'considered in connection with Vthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse view, in section, of a pneumatic tire embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in section, of a por tion of the sidewall of 'the pneumatic tire illustrated in Fig. 1; j Fig. 3 is a perspective viewpartly'in section,

of a portion of a pneumatic tire 'illustrating 'a modification of the invention; Y

. Fig. 4 is a transverse view, in section, of the `sidewall portion of a pneumatic tire illustrating a further modiflcation of my invention, as applicable to a 6-ply tire; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View, in section, of a por- -tion of the sidewall of a 4-ply pneumatic tire I -illustrating increased strength of the 2nd and 3rd plies.

With reference to the drawing and, inpar. 'l

ticular, to Fig. 1, I show a 4ply pneumatic tire entire `carcass. For example, an increase in the tensile strengthvof the second ply will effect an comprising a carcass I, inextensible beads 2, a treadl3 of rubber composition, and sidewall por- 2 2,317,912 tions lof a rubber composition. The carcass -I is tional 4-ply tire, in which all of the plies of the formed of fabricA plies 5, 6, 1, and correspondcarcass are uniform in.ply strength, stretch at ing to plies conventionally referred to as the break, and stretch at pounds load. For comrst, second, third, and fourth plies, respectively. parative purposes, the total strength rating of The first ply 5 is sometimes referred to as the 5 the carcass of this tire is given as 100% and the band ply or the inner ply. A breaker strip 9 rupture rating as demonstrated by actual tests completes the carcass I. is given as 100%. All of the tests as shown by An enlarged view of a portion of the tire carthe tables were conducted with pneumatic tires cass and sidewall is shown in Fig. 2. According incorporating cotton cords. The cords as shown to this illustration, the second ply 6 is shown 10 in this table are of 9.3/3/2 construction having `to be formed of heavier cords than the remaina gauge of .031 inch.

ing plies 5, 1, and 8. The strength of the second In Table II it is noted that the first, third, ply 6 may be obtained in various ways. For and fourth plies are similar in ply strength, but example, the strength of the individual cords the second ply has a greater ply strength and a may be increased; the cords may be spaced closer greater stretch at break. From this table it is together; or the cords may be formed of abetnoted that the total strength of the carcass is Ater quality material to provide the additional equal to 1645 pounds per inch. The rst, third strength. The principal qualification of the secand fourth plies are formed of cords of 12/3/2 ond ply is that its tensile strength per inch. of construction having a gauge of .0275 inch, while cross section shall be gteater than the tensile the second ply cords have a 12/4/2 construction strength of any of the remaining plies 5, 1, or 8. and a gauge of .032 inch. Based on Table I, the It is also to be understood that the second ply construction as shown inl Table II `provides a may be formed of a material whicl' is different carcass strength rating of 94%, while the rupture in composition than the remaining plies. For rating, as demonstrated by actual tests, shows example, a higher strength ply formed of rayon a rating of 108%. It is, therefore, apparent that cords could be utilized in combination with the even though the total carcass strength is re- .remaining'plies formed of cotton cords. duced, anl improvement can be obtained in rupf `An example of the results obtained from my ture resistance.

invention is indicated in the following tables: Table III illustrates a further demonstration of the invention, in which the first, third, and

Table I "0 fourth plies of the tire carcass are the same as the plies illustrated in the example in Table I tgg'ie sgggh sggh and the second ply is formed of cords of 17.5/4/3 Ply inch ply @break @10 ibs. construction being a gauge of .031 inch. In the strength present case the strength of the second ply is P d! 1; increased to 525 pounds and the stretch of the M440 e' P" 3.200 cords at break is increased to 12.50%. As a rem gg sult of this construction the strength of the total 440 '25 8'00 carcass is increased in proportion to the strength 40 added in the second ply to show a strength rating Totalsmngth winch pa, cm of 105%. This brings the rupture rating to 115%.

crosswiseofeords--.--- 1.760 Strength rating-..- 100 The table, therefore, shows that the increase in Rptmmmg"" 10 rupture rating is greater in proportion to the total strength increase of the carcass.

Table H i5 Referring to Fig. 3, I show a modification of my invention in the form of a pneumatic tire -New cpucomprising a carcass 9, inextensible beads IIIl Ply Sgggh Sgegh and a tread II and sidewall portions I2 of rubber Inch ply @break v(fr. 1o lbs. compos1t1on. 'I'he carcass 9 is formed of plies strength I3, I4, I5, I6, and IIA representing the first,

second, third, fourth and fifth plies, respectively.

P" "3fm In this construction the second ply I4 and third am* ply I5 are formed of cords which run substantially in the same direction. Because of this condition, there is no locking effect between the second and third plies caused by adjacent cords Tgaoessvrggiegs- 1,645 strength mingug running substantially at 'right angles thereto.- Rupture mimg m8 The second and third plies, therefore, function as a single ply and while five plies are illus- Table III trated, the tire, for all practical purposes, may

/ be considered as a 4-ply tire, on the assumption other that'the second `and third plies function as a :s: Cord Cord Y single ply, which may be considered asa com- Ply om, Stretch Stretch posite ply. The us of a double ply such as inch ply break i0 lbs.

mmm the combined plies I4 and I5 provide another means for obtaining, in effect, a stronger second ply. In this case the plies I4 and I5 are formed PTT "gfw so that their inch tensile strength collectively gg is greater than that of either of the remaining 11125 s100l 70 plies I3, I6, or I'I. Per am A A still further modification is shown in Fig. 4 Toeaismngth per inch strength rmng. 105.' which illustrates, in section, a portion of a 6p1y erosswiseofeordaw- 1,845 'B1Pt1mmi- 115 tire and which consists of a carcass formed of i I plies I8, I9, 20, 2l, 22, and 23 representing re- Table I illustrates characteristics of`a convenspectively the rst to sixth plies, inclusive, and

may be used singularly as the strongest ply in Y the carcass. It is to be understood that in a B-ply tire, it is more desirable for the second and third plies each to be formed of stronger materials than the remaining plies. Tests have indicated that both the modications as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 will function in the same manner as the principal embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to show a substantial improvement in rupture resistance.

resisting elements, certain ofthe plies nearv the interior of the tire being separated by a ply construction, having a higher cross sectional tensile strength per inch thanV any of the remaining plies in the carcass.

2. A pneumatic tire comprising tread and sidewall portions of rubber composition and a carcass composed of a plurality of plies of strain resisting elements, one of the intermediate plies having a greater number of strain resisting elements and` having greater tensile strength perA inch of cross section than either .the innerv or outer ply.

3. A pneumatic tire comprising tread 'and side- Wall portions of rubber composition and a carcass composed of a plurality of pliesof vstrain resisting elements, one of the-intermediate plies having a higher stretch capacity at'break than While reference has been made to special treatment of the second ply 'of a 4-ply tire, it is to be understood that the third ply may be likewise treated, or the improvement may be distributed between the second and third plies. Fig. 5 shows a sidewall portion of a pneumatic tire which includes plies 25, 26, 21 and 28v representing plies one to four,` respectively. A layer of rubber composition .29 covers the outer ply 28. In this construction the plies two and three are each stronger than either the first or fourth ply. The cords forming the plies of this modified form may b' substantially the equivalent of the cords forming the tire as described with reference to Fig. 2.-That is, the total strength of the carcass may remain the same while the increase in strength of the second and third plies i is offset by a decrease in strength in the first and fourth plies. In either case the principle of strengthening. this region of the carcass is the same'.

While cotton cords have been mentioned as the material forming the strain resisting elements of the various plies, it is to be understood that the plies may be formed of various other materials such as rayon, synthetic silks, synthetic linear polyamides or metallic wires, and that the constructions may'be in the form of yarns, plied yarns, or cords.

As thus shown and described, it is believed apparent that I have provided a novel arrangement of tire elements in which improvements in rupture resistance may be obtained without any increase in the total amount of materials used or in the total strength of the resulting carcass, and while I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to` be understood that itis susceptible of those modicationswhich appear within the spirit of the invention andthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus shown and described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A pneumatic tire comprising tread and sideeither the inner or outer ply.

4. A pneumatic tir comprising tread and sidewall portions of rubber composition and a carcass composed4 of a plurality of plies of strain resisting elements, one of thelinterm'ediate plies'having a higher tensile strength and a higherv stretch capacity at break than either the inner or outer Ply..- y

5. A pneumatic tire comprising tread` and sidewall portions of rubber composition and a carcass composed of at least four plies of strain resisting elements, the ply lying adjacent the inner or, first ply having a higher tensile vstrengthlthan strength per inch in any of the remaining plies.` 7. A pneumatic tire comprising tread and sidewall portions of rubber composition and a carcass composed of at least six plies of strain-resisting elements, the second and third plies each having a higher stretch capacity at breaky than any of.

the remaining plies.

8.' A pneumatic tire comprising-tread and. sidewall portions of rubber composition anda carcass composed of at least six plies of 'strain resisting elements, the second and third plies veach having 'a higher tensile strength and higher stretch capacity at break than any ofthe vremaining plies. j f y 9. A pneumatic tire comprising tread and sidewall portions of rubber composition and a carcass composed of a plurality Aof plies of strainresisting g textile elements at least one of the intermediate plies of textile elements in the 'region adjacent the rst ply having. a higher rupture resistance than either the rst or outer ply. y

y l0. A pneumatic tire comprising treadl and sidewall portions of rubber composition and a carcass composed of a plurality 'of plies of strain resisting elements, the second and third plies each having a higher stretch capacity at break than either the inner or outer p HAROLD S. 

